Stepping up to Enrich the Classroom and Using Professional Development
The ongoing question as to where does the integeration of technology get boogged down in enriching learning to todays’ students. Why do we fall short of technology expectations? How can we help the students expand there learning? these are all questions that confront us on a daily basis. our readings this wek explore some answers and solutions to todays problems.
The VSTE article takes a look at how and why we need to reach to the learners that are advanced in technology. It discusses how these learners have utilized technology in the socail aspects of their lives. It points out or suggest that it is important to reach out to the students in formats they use everyday with Web 2.0 tools. The article stresses that we do not lose the information of tradition , but relay the information in a format that the learner will easilly engage due to their constant practice of these new tools. This article talks of how you would expose a learner new to a languge. This is an interesting concept. I like that approach to both the learner and the teacher. Use the language they understand, but expand the information.Coffman (2007)
The Solomon book seems to back the same idea. it reaches out more to getting the teacher properly prepared to integrate these new tools into the classroom. It examines how set up a community of practice, including using these new tools in the professional development class themselves. Exchange ideas through blogs, wikis and podcats. You tend to understand how to use these tools when you yourself have engaged in them in practice.Solomon (2007)
We must improve and expand our professional develoment. bring it to the 21st century as well. This course has helped me to understand a lot by using the various tools.
The bottom line is how to engage the student through new techniques, ones they understand.
Solomon, G. ; Scrum, L. Web 2.0 new tools, new schools.(2007). International Society for Technology in Education. WashingtonDC.
Coffman, T; Campbell, A.; Heller, E.; Horney, E.; Slater, L. (2007). VSTE Journal Vol 21, No.6. The New Literacy Crisis:Immigrants Teaching Natives in the Digital Age. retreived June 28th, 2008. http://blackboard.umw.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_26336_1
June 29th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Great comments in your blog. I do agree with you that our students need not to lose the tradition of learning, but to incorporate Web 2.0 tools to engage the learner with these new techniques of learning. Through the use of the language that the digital native understands we as the teacher can expand on this knowledge and make it more appealing. Don’t you think it can also give the learner a better understanding of the subject thru the use of these tools?
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
[...] Stepping up to Enrich the Classroom and Using Professional DevelopmentThe ongoing question as to where does the integeration of technology get boogged down in enriching learning to todays’ students. Why do we fall short of technology expectations? How can we help the students expand there learning? these … [...]